I'm off to NYC for the weekend (maybe Brooklyn?). Looking forward to seeing some museums and hanging out with friends and family. Hopefully I don't get lost. See you back here on Sunday night. Peace.
And no its not a Billy Joel cover just FYI.
On the Fader blog tip comes Tigerstyle (article here). According to BBC's Radio 1 they are "without doubt the next Asian/Bhangra act that will break through into the mainstream - it is only a question of time." This Glasgow Punjabi production team has some amazing stuff. Be sure to check out there myspace for more songs.
Mp3: M.I.A. - "XR2" (Tigerstyle Remix) (zshare) (96 kbps)
They are going to be playing some small spots around the country from Seattle (tomorrow), Portland (Saturday) and NYC at the Knitting Factory (April 5th). If you are close to either of these spots check them out.
This is why I like this dude's beats so much. He takes two great songs that you really like on their own merit and then has the ability to blend them together to make a song that you really like. Dude has a great ear for this blending stuff. Check it out:
Visit: Make sure you visit B.Cause's myspace and get some of his fantastic mixtapes.
Seems like hype machine is a buzz with the new Timbaland record but after giving it a listen through and despite all the talent assembled, the record is pretty lackluster. After all the jams Timbaland was putting out in 2006 I expected a bit more.
Just about every track has a guest ranging for Justin Timberlake, Sebastian to the oddly selected Fall Out Boy. Another travesty is that the US buyers miss out on one of the best tracks on the record ("Give it to Me" & "Miscommunication" aren't half bad). The Japanese and British import have a bonus track that features Mathangi Arulpragasam aka M.I.A. Check it out.
Mp3: Timbaland feat. M.I.A. - "Come Around"
available at Spine Magazine as well.
Buy: No requests for re-ups please. Get yourself the entire record here or here. Record is out April 3rd. It is nice to see that Magoo made it back on the record though. Where the hell has that dude been? Also keep an eye on Floyd Nathanial Hill aka Danja (production) and Keri Hilson (vocals).
Thanks: Got this track thanks to Mr. Benzi. I've been looking for it ever since I saw the videos on uTube of MIA and Timbaland working together. Congrats to Benz for being in URB magazine's The Next 1000. Head over here to hear some of his exclusive refixes. He has a new remix record coming up and if you got his Clipse tape you know how great his mixtapes are!
Curtis Cross aka Black Milk is Detroit rapper/producer. His record Popular Demand is a fantastically produced hip hop record in the vien of West or Madlib. Like these greats Milk relies heavily on soul sample-based beats over hollow drum tracks. Milk even holds his own as an emcee providing some excellent rhymes on this record.
In true hip hop fashion he invites some Detroit natives to help him out with the likes of Guilty Simpson, and Elzhi and T3 from Slum Village, and Baatin, Phat Kat, and One Be Lo from Binary Star. This is a promising debut and we will surely hear more from this rising hip hop star. Check out this bonus track from the limited edition record.
Mp3: Black Milk feat. NameTag - "Tell em" (zshare)
Buy: Be sure to pick up Milk's Popular Demand here. You get a free 7"!
I know I've been featuring waaay to many Ratatat remixes but you know when I saw a remix of Kanye's "Diamonds" on the new record I had to share it. While its not the best remix on the record its still pretty damn good. Check it out.
The standout here is certainly the remix of B.I.G.'s "Party and Bullshit." Be sure to pick up this new mixtape when it drops. More info about that here.
Tongues is the new record from Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid. Hebden many probably know better under his Four Tet moniker. Where Hebden is modern in the sense that he uses a sample-based collage of jazz, folk and soul, Reid is of the old school playing with legends such as Miles Davis, Archie Shepp, Sam Rivers and soul greats like James Brown, Dionne Warwick and Chaka Khan.
Their 2006 release The Exchange Session Vol. 1 was a bit of a dissappointment for me and Vol. 2 didn't get me all that much more excited. I am looking forward to this new album which came out in the States on March 20th.
The talent is there but maybe the pairing just isn't right. Hopefully this new record show cases what they can do. Certainly releasing three four albums in the span of 2 years is a feat but I am becoming wearing that they should have just cooked it down and got the best of them on a single album. Check out a couple tracks:
Mp3: Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid - "The Sun Never Sets"
Mp3: Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid - "People Be Happy/Rhythm Dance" (Audion's Highlight Mix)
Thanks to Nick Catchdubs and Professor Sound for the heads up on this great great remix. Its a soca/calypso remix of Akon's played out R-Kelly-esque hit "Don't Matter." The soca take really takes this song to the next level. Check it out.
Since we featured a bit of Chromeo yesterday I figured no better time then to give some shine to Dave1's brother, Kanye's DJ and 5 time DMC turntable champion A-Trak. Its the fourth installment from Obey with art of course done by the mighty Shepard Fairey. More info over at URB blog.
Get this record by any means neccessary its a damn classic. Exclusive Clipse, UNK, Rick Ross, Kid Sister, TTC, Lil Wayne remixes and so so much more! Last year it was Shadow and Funky Skunk now its this. Obey the Giant!
Buy: Get this limited edition release here for 10 bucks. Do it.
Thanks to The Ghost Robot for the heads up on this album.
AG favorite Chromeo, Dave1 and Pee Thug have a new record about to drop and they have been oozing out that electonic/pop/funk. Check out some of their leaks off the album (last one with Mehdi is off Mehdi's album):
Yeah I was pretty surprised myself when I got the email. Outside of loving hip hop I'm a pretty diehard Pink Floyd fan. Judge this song for yourself.
Mp3: Roger Waters - "Hello, I love you"
Some of the lyrics aren't as original as I would like them to be and its certainly no "Amused to Death", but regardless its always great to hear Roger making music again. This track is for the new movie The Last Mimzy starring Dwight from The Office.
I didn't think El-P could get better than Fantastic Damage, I was wrong. Released almost a full five years after his debut, I'll Sleep When You're Dead, El-P or El Producto has taken his production game to a new level. Nothing showcases it better than "Drive" in my opinion. Here is a advanced remix for you to check out in lieu of the release.
Mp3: El-P - "Flyentology" (Cassettes Won't Listen Remix)
It should also be noted that I can't wait to grab the offical copy of this record as I have been rotating the leaked version with crappy sound quality and some stupid hype man yelling at the beginning of every track. Also check out the Syriana-esque video for "Smithereens" on NY Times:
Video: NY Times world premieres the video for "Smithereens"
Buy: Don't forget to pick up this record. El-P at the top of his game. Record is out March 20th. You can pre-order it from Def Jux here.
Photo by lonelyinjapan.
It must be something in the water over there on the leftcoast, but dudes know how to make some great blends. A couple AG favorites reside in the bay area right now and they are killing it. You already know I have all kinds of respect for B.Cause but another dude close to my heart is Ross Hogg.
Ross uses classic and current reggae beats and acapellas and blends them with hip hop heaters. He tends to go the reggae/dancehall route instead the soul/funk/disco route of B.Cause. The results are the same...a great new angle, a fresh look on a song you have probably heard a million times (or in some cases a forgotten beat). Both these dudes keep things real fresh.
Mp3: Ciara - "Promise" (Ross Hogg Drumline Riddim Remix)
Mp3: Mavado - Weh Dem a Do Last Night (Ross Hogg Rmx)
Mp3: Tears for Fears & T. Pain - "Go Dumb and Shout" (Ross Hogg Remix)**
All of these work but I'm especially loving the third track (it feeds right into my harboured love for cheesy 80's music). I know you are thinking you have heard a billion takes on Ciara's "Promise" but check it out over the drumline riddim it really works and of course you know I am on the-everything-Mavado kick right now.
Visit: Stop by Ross Hogg's myspace and for all you bay area people go see both of these guys live. We don't have anything close here in Vermont so stop taking stuff like this for granted.
Shoe in for record of the year and quite possibly one of my favorite jazz records of all time. I have been listening to Mr. Marsalis' latest record straight out the package and its been on constant rotation.
I wouldn't have thought that the best social message of the last 10 years would come in the form of a jazz record. Swelling prisons, failing schools, injustice, greed, capitalism the list of issues goes on (hip hop isn't even safe). Marsalis takes an uninhibited look at society, the failing of morals in the American mainstream culture and everything that needs to change. This record is simply flawless.
Case and point is this track:
Mp3: Wynton Marsalis - "Where Y'all At?"
Buy: Get From the Plantation to the Penitentiary here.
DJ U-Tern has already been covered here and the DJ from Vancouver BC has a bit more to share. His latest offering is an old mixtape which features 60 electro/boogie/funk/disco tracks. Its called Body Work Vol. 1 and is being offered up for free.
Mp3: U-Tern - Body of Work Volume 1
Its a fantastic mix with focused transitions between songs along with some fantastic re-edits. Here is a description from U-Tern himself:
So it's been a full year since I released this mix and all the CD's are gone, so I figured I'd share it with those of you that didn't get a copy. It's a 60 track mix of various Boogie, Disco, Electro and other funky oldschool tracks with plenty of edits, blends, sound FX and vocal dubs. Volume 2 is now in the works, as well as a break style party record which should be out this summer!
U-Tern also has a new record called The Cookie Jar Volume 1 coming out soonish. Don't miss this kid.
Find U-Tern all over the internets:
www.onedaylater.blogspot.com
www.Friendster.com/djutern
www.brooklynradio.net
I admittedly know very little about the whole reggae/dancehall scene but with the help of the likes of Double L, El Professor and Ross Hogg I have been slowly learning. Compilations like these don't hurt either.
In Biggest Reggae One-Drop Anthems 2006 the esteemed Greensleeves puts together 40 (40!!) of the greatest dancehall/reggae tracks of 2006. Its like the dancehall Cliff Notes for the whole scene in '06 with essential hits, sleepers and the up and comers. Turntable lab said it best:
VP and Greensleeves both make great compilations, but they've got a different style- VP is like the honest but predictable old uncle who tells it like it is; Greensleeves is like the wild out little cousin who tells you the news plus a whole bunch of other shit. Both have their virtues, but there's something more exciting about the Greensleeves joints- you just don't know what you're gonna find on here.My favorite out of the 40 if I had to choose one has got to be Richie Spice's "Open the door."
Mp3: Richie Spice - "Open the Door" (zshare)
But like I said all 40 are fantastic and definitely worth the purchase. Don't skimp on this one. Its crucial for your 2007 to have this record.
Buy: Get it from Turntable lab of course! here.
I like to pretend that I am some sort of musical genius who digs through crates of dusty old vinyl and searches the pages of foreign magazines to find the next big thing in music, but I am far from that. My subsciption to Fader teaches everything I know along with all my colleagues at the Hollerboard.
Fader is essential reading and for all the cheap bastards out there you can actually download it for free (which also is environmentally friendly by saving a tree or two). You can go here and get the magazine and its usually paired with a cool musical element constructed by Fader contributor and DJ genius Nick Catchdubs. Here is a little AG gift to you all for being loyal readers as well.
Contest
The first person to email me their favorite Mavado tune ALONG with the hip hop group that appears on this months Fader cover wins a limited-edition 7" vinyl (only 500 pressed), with cover design by Jack Duplock and tracks by Mavado and Busy Signal and production by Daseca and Black Chiney Soundsystem.
One copy only so first one in wins! and no PO Boxes or people from outside the US. Sorry for that.
Contest is over. Congrats to James for winning the limited edition record!
http://www.thefader.com/blog/articles/category/podcasts
Too backpacker for some, just perfect for me. The Hieroglyphics crew has a rarities, b-siders, remix record coming out. For those that don't know the Hiero crew is made up of A-Plus, Casual, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Domino, Jay-Biz, Mike G, Opio, Pep Love, Phesto, Tajai, and Toure.
Domino has some essential remixes on this record of some of my all time favorite hip hop tracks ("You Never Know" & "Phoney Phranchise"). Check out a sample track.
Buy: I certainly recommend picking up this record. Find Hieroglyphics' Overtime here (only $9.98!).
Her 2006 release Colour the Small One was a fantastic record (especially all the various encarntaions of her track "Breathe Me."). She is long known for her work with the downtempo outfit Zero 7. Her vocals are heard on many of their classics.
The Aussie has a new record due out in 2007 called Lady Croissant a live LP recorded in the Bowery Ballroom in NYC, and while I am not commonly into live records I've been enjoying this one. The record even includes a new Sia track called "Pictures." Here is a small sample:
Mp3: Sia - "Destiny" (Live)
Buy: Get Sia's Colour the Small Ones with bonus tracks here.
One of my favorite records of last year was Tales of the forgotten melodies. I could still listen to it for days. "Que Sera" ranks up as one of my very favorite tracks and one of the best in the genre.
JC Le Saoût aka Wax Tailor is a hip-hop/trip-hop producer from Paris. His new record is Hope & Sorrow due out April 2nd. You can stream the entire thing at his myspace. Check out a track from the upcoming record:
Mp3: Wax Tailor - "The Tune"
Buy: Pre-order Hope & Sorrow here.
Many are familiar with Evidence because of his association with the group Dialated Peoples. He also has done production for Beastie Boys, Swollen Members, Defari, Planet Asia and co- production on Kanye West's debut album College Dropout (which got Evidence a Grammy). Evidence's debut album is The Weatherman.
The LP features some great talent in Alchemist, Planet Asia, Slug and DJ Babu. Overall the album is strong but the production on this record outshines the rhyming and songwriting here. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing given the high level of the production on this record. Check out a track produced by the Alchemist:
Mp3: Evidence feat. Slug - "Scrimmage Line"
Buy: Pick up Evidence's The Weatherman here, street date is March 20th.
Awesome new record from the Afro-beat Ubiquity group Antibalas. Security is the fourth full length album that showcases this groups talent and prowess in the genre.
Antibalas or "Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra" is a Brooklyn-based collective of musicians founded in 1998 by bandleader Martin Perna. The group ranges up to 14 members at times and many of their beats hover around the 7 minute mark. This latest album was produced by John McEntire (Stereolab, Tortoise, Sea and Cake, Tom Ze). Check out one of my favorite tracks.
Mp3: Antibalas - "I.C.E."
Buy: Get Security here.
March 6th saw the release of Consequence's debut album Don't Quit You're Day Job. Having a debut is a bit misleading given that Quence has been putting out mixtapes since 2002 and appeared on Quest's 1996 record, Beats, Rhymes and Life.
Quence is now on Kanye's GOOD label. If not careful Quence's delivery and cadence can be confused with Mr. West's but he is not a mere copier and is actually Q-Tip's cousin. Check out one of my favorite tracks off the new album.
Mp3: Consequence - "Don't Forget Em"
Video: Consequence - "Callin' Me"
The content of the raps and the soul sample driven beats are perfect for Quence's style. This is a great addition hip hop in 2007.
Buy: Be sure to pick up Don't Quite You're Day Job here.
Hipsters everywhere rejoice some new Ratatat remixes have surfaced. Kidding aside these guys definitely have a knack for production and their put a nice spin of one of my favorite Kanye songs (albeit not as good as A-Trak's spin but still good). Check these out and watch for Remixes Vol. 2 out soonish.
Buy: Get some Ratatat stuff here.
In promotion for the upcoming Mind Control record I have some Stephen Marley stuff to give away. Here is what can be won:
Prize Pack (A):
1 Autographed "Traffic Jam" vinyl
1 Regular "Traffic Jam" vinyl
1 Regular "Hey Baby" ft. Mos Def CD single
1 Autographed "Traffic Jam" vinyl
1 Regular "Traffic Jam" vinyl
1 Regular "Hey Baby" ft. Mos Def CD single
Prize Pack (B):
1 Regular "Traffic Jam" vinyl
1 Regular "Hey Baby" ft. Mos Def CD single
1 Regular "Traffic Jam" vinyl
1 Regular "Hey Baby" ft. Mos Def CD single
All you have to do is answer a couple simple questions.
First two people to answer these questions right win (1st gets prize A, 2nd prize B):
1. Whats Stephen's nickname?
2. How many grammys has Stephen won?
Email me your answers. Sorry must live in the US and not have a PO Box address.
Record drops March 20th. Keep your eye out for it.
Edit: Congrats to Dave for winning and Wonder for coming in second.
Claude VonStroke or Mr. VonStroke is the dude behind SF's tech-funk label. His 2007 release The Whistler 12" has some big names in the remix scene with Diplo, DJ Assault and Jesse Rose all lending their skills to the project.
Of course this track isn't going to work for everyone one but I've been digging it the past couple days.
Mp3: Claude VonStroke - "The Whistler" (Diplo Remix)
Buy: Pick up this 12" from Turntable Lab of course.
Junior Boys are pretty much my favorite group right now. As soon as I listened to Last Exit I fell in love and that love has been going strong right on through So This is Goodbye. They have a new EP coming out called Dead Horse which features fantastic remixes by Hot Chip, Kode 9, Carl Craig and Marsen Jules. Here is just a taste:
Mp3: Junior Boys - "In the Morning" (Hot Chip Remix)
Buy: Make sure you roll by here and pick up some JB records here.
First off thanks to all that gave me some love in the last post. Had a fantastic time up here in Vermont. The wedding was great and I feel so lucky to be married to such an amazing young lady. But lets get back into the swing of things with some more music.
Ta'Raach formely known as Lacksidaisycal, then Lacks, has appeared on numerous tracks by Detriot legends such as J-Dilla and Carl Craig along with working with Waajeed, Amp Fiddler and Dabrye. Ta'Raach's new album is part R&B part Hip-hop and all excellent. I def recommend that you check it out. Here is one of my favorite tracks on the album where Ta teams up with Joy Jones.
Mp3: Ta'Raach feat. Joy Jones - "Liberation's Lullabye"
Buy: Make sure you pick up this record...its rocking.
Things are looking up, the Bears finally signed Coach Smith to a 4 year extension and I am getting married this weekend. I'll be taking a blogging hiatus until Monday. Have a great weekend all. I am sure it will be less stressful than mine but I am pretty excited about the bash we have planned here in Vermont this weekend.
See you all back here Monday. Peace.
